Stove-top



(No Model.)

W. H. WOOLDRIDGE.

STOVE TOP.

No. 404,065. Patented May 28, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IILIAM II. XVOOLDRIDGE, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

STOVE-TO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,065, dated May 28, 1889.

` Application filed February 7, 1889. Serial No. 298,989. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM II. VOOL- BRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stove-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvem ent in stove-tops; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying` drawingsFigure l is a top plan view of a stove-top embodying my improvements, showing the covers lfor the stove-holes swung to one side. Fig. 2 is adetailed perspective view of one of the bridgeplates. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line Qc a: of Fig. l and illustrating the construction of the parts of the stove-top. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the parts of the stove-top, showing the same separated.

The stove-top is composed of two parts, A B, which are made of cast metal, and are rectangular in shape, with their outer corners rounded. At the inner side of the part A is formed an offset portion, C, which is provided in its upper side with a groove, D, the same extending to opposite sides of the part A, as shown. The part B is provided on its inner edge with an inverted offset portion, E, which is adapted to lap over the offset portion C, and is grooved or channeled on its under side, whereby the groove D extends entirely across the central portion of the stove-top between the lap offsets C E of the members or parts of the stovetop. The said channel serves to admit a constant current of fresh air, which serves to keep the lapped portions of the stove-top from becoming heated to an injurious degree. Bolts F extend through the said lapped portions of the stove-top, and thereby secure the plates A B together. The offset portion E is provided with a suitable number of air-openings, G, which communicate with the channel D, and thereby permit heated air to readily escape from the said channel without having to pass through the entire length thereof.

The plates A B are each provided with rectangular openin gs H of suitable size, in the ends of which are semicircular openings I.

Bridge-plates K of usual construction are fitted in the parallel sides of the openings I-I, and are provided in opposite edges with semicircular openings, which, together with the openings I, constitute the usual circular openings in the top of the stove.

Formed on or bolted to the upper side of each bridge-plate K is an oifset or cleat, L, which extends transversely across the said bridge-plate, and may be solid; or the said cleat or offset may be provided with a longitudinal channel, M, as shown in Fig. 2, to admit of the circulation of air and to strengthen the bridge-piece, and openings N may be formed in the top of said cleat or offset to communicate with said channel.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the offsets or cleats L are arranged at right angles to the lapped offsets C E of the stove-top in a line intersecting the center of the latter.

O represents a series of square or rectangular covers, which are adapted to close the openings I and to fit in the angles formed by the offsets of the stove-top and bridge-plates. The inner corners of the said plates adjacent to the side edges of the stove-top are rounded, as at P, and bolts or lugs R extend through openings near said corners and engage the stove-top, and thereby serve to pivot the said plates O thereon and adapt the same to be swung inward over the openings I, or to be swung outward and extended beyond the sides of the stove-top, as shown in Fig. l. When the said plates O are moved over the openings I, their inner sides engage the offset Yportions of the stove-top and the cleats or offsets L, said offset portions and cleats forming stops for said covers, and when the latter are swung outward to a position indicated in Fig. l their proximate inner edges engage the offset portion E of the stove-top, and thereby said plates are stopped when they reach a position directly at right angles to the stove-top. Vhen thus arranged, the said covers will form shelves or brackets adapted to support dishes or cooking utensils containing viands which it may be desired to keep Warm. Said covers O are of the same thickness as the offsets on the upper side of the stove-top, and therefore their upper sides are flush with the upper IOO sides of said offsets, thus giving the stove-top an unobstructed plane surface when the covers O are swung over the openings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A stove-top formed of two or more sections, lthe adjacent edges of which are provided with oppositely-offset portions, as C E, the offset of one section being adapted to take over and register1 with that of the other, and the two conjointly forming an air-space, D, substantially as specified.` l

2. A stove-top formed of twoor more s ections, the adjacent edges of which'are provided with oppositely-oifset portions, as C E, formed with perforation's, as G, the offset of one section being adapted to take over and rest upon that of the other, and the two oonjointly forming an air-space, D, substantially as specified.

3. The stove-top having the openings I and the osets or cleats arranged at right angles to each other, and the covers O, pivoted `on the stove-top at their outer proximate corners, and thereby adapted to be swung over the openings or swung outward therefrom and extended beyondV the sides of theI stovetop, substantially as described.

4. The stove-top having the transverse 'Oifset on its upper side and the openings H, the

bridge-plates adapted tot Vsaid openings, circular openings being yformed in the ends of openings I-l and in the sides of the bridgeplate, the latter having the offsets or cleats L on their upper sides arranged at right angles to the offset on the stove-top, and the covers .0', pivoted on the stove-top at their inner proximate corners, whereby said covers may be swung inward over the openings or swung outward and extended beyond the sides of the stove-top, and whereby the cleats or ofsets constitute stops to limit the movement of the covers, substantially asdescribed.

5. A center or bridge piece for stove-tops, provided on its upper side with a longitudinal hollow brace extending beyond its ends and adapted to 'support the saine, substantially as herein described. l Y

6. A stove-top provided with braces o'n its upper side, in combination with swinging covers arranged to be flush or level with said braces, substantially as set forth.

y In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 

